Moge Tee Cheese Rose Oolong Tea with Boba: I passed by Moge Tee on Christmas evening and was surprised to find a bubble tea shop open at 10pm. They were out of their normal milk teas, so I got one of these cheese-foam options, which seems to be growing in popularity at bubble tea shops more generally. The rose oolong tea, at a quarter sweetness, had a pleasantly floral flavor that still tasted strongly of oolong tea, and the boba had a quality springiness without being overly soft. I think the cheese flavor didn't work consuming t... (read more)3.5/5.0

Ling Kee Beef Jerky: Around the corner from the East Broadway subway stop on the edge of Manhattan's Chinatown is a small shop called Ling Kee Beef Jerkey (sic). The shop sells pork, chicken, and beef jerky by 1/4, 1/2, or lb sizes, each laid out in stacks under a bright heatlamp. The shop specializes in Malaysian Jerky, which I hadn't had before but remind me a lot of Taiwanese beef jerky, which is nothing like American packaged jerky. Typically, asian jerky is moist, with a glistening, sweet glaze rather th... (read more)4.5/5.0

Bao Tea House Chocolate Milk Bao: This is a special at Bao Tea House in the West Village that will be added to the full menu soon (in that way, it’s more of a preview than a special). Ordered in sets of two, the chocolate baos are coated in melted milk chocolate and slices almonds, with chocolate chips and a cream filling. I’m not a very big chocolate fan, so this wasn’t really a dessert for me, but texturally I liked the combination of crunchy and soft. The cream filling was a bit overwhelming though; it felt more like calo... (read more)3.0/5.0

Morgenstern’s Cardamom Lemon Jam ice cream: There are many great ice cream shops in NYC, but Morgenstern’s has been my favorite for a long time. Over the years, I’ve found myself mostly purchasing their specials, but this time I ordered one of their regular menu flavors, and it did not disappoint. This cardamom lemon jam ice cream has a really wonderfully spiced cardamom flavor, with a creamy yet sharp acidic aftertaste. Texturally, it is perfectly smooth. It’s a fantastic flavor that shows off how consistently good Morgenstern’s can be. 4.5/5.0

Nohohon Iced Matcha: I was really excited to finally try this small matcha shop on St Marks, where matcha beverages are whisked by hand to order. To judge the quality of the matcha alone, I opted for the iced matcha instead of their lattes. While I enjoyed the experience of entering the small storefront through their traditional Japanese Noren curtain and watching my beverage made, with hot water poured into the whisked matcha with a wooden ladle, the positives end there. The matcha was bitter with no complex... (read more)1.0/5.0

Ferdinando's Focacceria Manhattan Special: I spent some time in NYC before leaving the East Coast, and during a lunch with some old friends, I was informed that the restaurant had a special soda called the Manhattan Special on tap. Given the amount of time I've spent in Manhattan over my entire lifetime (and my love of sodas), I was surprised to have never come across this drink before. The cola-colored carbonated beverage is a mix of espresso and sweetened soda water and has a deep coffee flavor. It's hard to imagine it pairing part... (read more)3.0/5.0